Monday, 14 April 2014

It’s official: I have survived the final week of classes of
the Master’s program. Last week was the toughest to get through because I had a
big final group essay to finish, a presentation, Moot Court practice- all with
a side dose of a very poorly timed throat infection. Thankfully, I am no longer
sick and I have my sights set on the final essay to be submitted this Friday.

I have never been so happy to see a Monday morning. One
essay to go until all I have to worry about is thesis deadlines and Moot Court
nerves. This week is a short break from everything and I have five full days to
focus on finishing my last essay of the year. It’s a rare occasion to only have
one project to focus on so I am happy for the semi-retreat. Once this Friday
deadline has passed, my first mission will be to buy a book to read – the first
book of the summer that does not come from a syllabus – and I’m sure it will be
a welcome break from the mountain of thesis reading heading my way.

Easter is approaching and this weekend will be ‘First Easter
day’ and ‘Second Easter day’ in the Netherlands, or what some might call Easter
Sunday and Easter Monday. I will be heading back to Ireland for a short visit
home while others head away on holidays across Europe to enjoy one last break
before the start of thesis mode. After Easter Monday is over, there is exactly
63 days (or a little over two months) to complete the thesis, with a week of
that spent in the Hague representing Utrecht University at the ICC Moot Court
competition. Slightly daunting, but as the Dutch say ‘Waar een wil is, is een
weg’ (Where there’s a will there’s a way!)